Head-to-head · Cost-Efficiency Index
EllieMD vs Shape Vantage
Two GLP-1 programs on the bench, scored on the same six factors. Here's how their real cost of ownership compares — and which one we'd start with.
EllieMD
Shoppers specifically interested in a microdosing protocol with a named compounding pharmacy, not full-dose treatment.
Visit EllieMDShape Vantage
Cost-first shoppers who want the lowest flat tirzepatide sticker price, for shoppers comfortable with a site that names no prescriber or pharmacy anywhere.
Visit Shape VantageThe verdict
EllieMD and Shape Vantage tie on the Cost-Efficiency Index at 52/100, so neither wins outright on the numbers. For most shoppers we'd start with EllieMD (ranked #387, a hair above #392) — Shoppers specifically interested in a microdosing protocol with a named compounding pharmacy, not full-dose treatment. But Shape Vantage is a genuine coin-flip alternative here.
Worth knowing either way: our overall #1 pick is CoreAge Rx (Cost-Efficiency Index 94/100 — the top of the ranking). See how it stacks up: CoreAge Rx vs EllieMD.
Factor by factor
Both providers scored on our six Cost-Efficiency Index factors. The stronger side on each row is marked in teal.
Normalized Cost/Month
Price Transparency
Nationwide Access
Formulation Options
Clinical Oversight
Contract Flexibility
Pricing, coverage & formulary
The disclosed facts behind the scores. Lower price wins its row (teal).
| Spec | EllieMD | Shape Vantage |
|---|---|---|
| Cost-Efficiency Index | 52/100 | 52/100 |
| Semaglutide / mo | $229/mo (microdose tier, compounded) | Not disclosed |
| Tirzepatide / mo | $239/mo (microdose tier, compounded) | $133/mo (3-month plan, compounded) |
| Semaglutide / yr (modeled) | $2,748 | — |
| Tirzepatide / yr (modeled) | $2,868 | $1,596 |
| Coverage | Coverage not published | Coverage not published |
| Oral / sublingual | No | No |
| Brand-name access | Yes | Compounded only |
| Rank here | #387 | #392 |
EllieMD
52/100Where the value is
- Names its compounding pharmacy — Clover, a 503A facility — unlike most competitors in this batch that only say 'a licensed U.S. pharmacy'
- Explicitly states 'No hidden membership, shipping, or consultation fees' for the microdose program
- All 50 states served per the site's own claim
The tradeoffs
- The ONLY GLP-1 pricing published anywhere on the site is for the microdose program — a shopper wanting typical-dose semaglutide or tirzepatide will find no price before completing the intake process
- Microdose pricing requires a 12-week (84-day) minimum commitment; no month-to-month option was found
Shape Vantage
52/100Where the value is
- Lowest all-in sticker price of the 12 sites researched: $399 flat for a full 3-month tirzepatide program, no separate monthly billing
- Simple single-price structure with no dose-tier hedging or 'starting at' language
- At least one verifiable legal anchor: Terms page confirms the entity name and California governing law
The tradeoffs
- No physician, nurse practitioner, medical director, or individually named prescriber is disclosed anywhere on the site — every informational sub-page (about, how-it-works, FAQ, refund policy) 404s
- No compounding pharmacy is named, and the site never uses the words 'compounded,' 'prescription,' or 'pharmacy' — marketing language ('formulation kit,' 'product') reads closer to a supplement than a physician-prescribed medication
Assume any provider we list may compensate us — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. It never changes the Cost-Efficiency Index. Pricing, states and verification reflect each provider's public disclosures at last review; prices change — confirm on the provider's site. Not medical advice. See our disclosure.